As I keep saying....

[Diuretic]

You can do it if we can, the US should be able to do this easily...

When Pulitzer Prize winner Geraldine Brooks was diagnosed with cancer overseas, she didn’t hightail it back home, to “the best health care in the world”—she stayed in Australia, home to a humane, rational system.

In 2004, I’d just finished a novel and by way of celebration had taken my family for an extended visit to Australia, where I was born and raised.

I didn’t expect that trip to save my life. But I’m convinced it did, because of Australia’s “socialized” medicine.

I retreat to my garret when I write a novel, especially toward the end. I stop going anyplace, wear sweat pants all day, neglect personal grooming. Back in the Sydney neighborhood where I’d lived for many years, I was re-entering the civilized world, and was on the way to a salon for an overdue haircut when I passed the BreastScreen van, parked in the main street.This mobile service offers free mammograms, no appointment necessary. It wasn’t until I saw that van that I realized a mammogram was one of the things I’d forgotten to do. I was a year overdue, according to the guidelines for women my age, so I stepped into the van, got squished and zapped by a pleasantly efficient technician, who told me a radiologists’ report would be mailed out in a week or so.

Two weeks later, I was in a Sydney hospital, discussing treatment options for my invasive stage II cancer. According to testimony by Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) at last Thursday’s health-care summit, I should have been heading for the airport at that point. Like his unnamed Canadian state[sic] premier with the heart condition, I should have been hightailing it to the U.S., to avail myself of “the best health care in the world.”

More at link - Socialized Medicine Saved Me - The Daily Beast

 

[Harry Dresden]

You can do it if we can, the US should be able to do this easily...

When Pulitzer Prize winner Geraldine Brooks was diagnosed with cancer overseas, she didn’t hightail it back home, to “the best health care in the world”—she stayed in Australia, home to a humane, rational system.

In 2004, I’d just finished a novel and by way of celebration had taken my family for an extended visit to Australia, where I was born and raised.

I didn’t expect that trip to save my life. But I’m convinced it did, because of Australia’s “socialized” medicine.

I retreat to my garret when I write a novel, especially toward the end. I stop going anyplace, wear sweat pants all day, neglect personal grooming. Back in the Sydney neighborhood where I’d lived for many years, I was re-entering the civilized world, and was on the way to a salon for an overdue haircut when I passed the BreastScreen van, parked in the main street.This mobile service offers free mammograms, no appointment necessary. It wasn’t until I saw that van that I realized a mammogram was one of the things I’d forgotten to do. I was a year overdue, according to the guidelines for women my age, so I stepped into the van, got squished and zapped by a pleasantly efficient technician, who told me a radiologists’ report would be mailed out in a week or so.

Two weeks later, I was in a Sydney hospital, discussing treatment options for my invasive stage II cancer. According to testimony by Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) at last Thursday’s health-care summit, I should have been heading for the airport at that point. Like his unnamed Canadian state[sic] premier with the heart condition, I should have been hightailing it to the U.S., to avail myself of “the best health care in the world.”

More at link - Socialized Medicine Saved Me - The Daily Beast

Di....what are you saying we should be able to do?....

 

[Dr Grump]

Have free breast screening....but it's socialism, right?

 

[del]

Have free breast screening....but it's socialism, right?

we've had it for years, but that's inconvenient isn't it?

 

[Dr Grump]

Have free breast screening....but it's socialism, right?

we've had it for years, but that's inconvenient isn't it?

No, that's great! Maybe Di should do more research!

 

[del]

Have free breast screening....but it's socialism, right?

we've had it for years, but that's inconvenient isn't it?

No, that's great! Maybe Di should do more research!

or maybe that wasn't his point? i dunno-maybe he'll come back and tell us.

i'd like health insurance reform, but the ongoing clusterfuck in washington doesn't seem likely to get it right. we have mandatory insurance here in mass and it's driving costs through the roof.

 

[jillian]

Have free breast screening....but it's socialism, right?

we've had it for years, but that's inconvenient isn't it?

free? through private charities, yes?

cause mine is $600 a year between the mammogram and sonogram. I get back almost nothing from my insurance company.

 

[del]

Have free breast screening....but it's socialism, right?

we've had it for years, but that's inconvenient isn't it?

free? through private charities, yes?

cause mine is $600 a year between the mammogram and sonogram. I get back almost nothing from my insurance company.

yes. is the method of service delivery the issue or is it just that the services are delivered by whatever means? i'm not trying to be antagonistic, btw.

 

[☭proletarian☭]

You can do it if we can, the US should be able to do this easily...

When Pulitzer Prize winner Geraldine Brooks was diagnosed with cancer overseas, she didn’t hightail it back home, to “the best health care in the world”—she stayed in Australia, home to a humane, rational system.

In 2004, I’d just finished a novel and by way of celebration had taken my family for an extended visit to Australia, where I was born and raised.

I didn’t expect that trip to save my life. But I’m convinced it did, because of Australia’s “socialized” medicine.

I retreat to my garret when I write a novel, especially toward the end. I stop going anyplace, wear sweat pants all day, neglect personal grooming. Back in the Sydney neighborhood where I’d lived for many years, I was re-entering the civilized world, and was on the way to a salon for an overdue haircut when I passed the BreastScreen van, parked in the main street.This mobile service offers free mammograms, no appointment necessary. It wasn’t until I saw that van that I realized a mammogram was one of the things I’d forgotten to do. I was a year overdue, according to the guidelines for women my age, so I stepped into the van, got squished and zapped by a pleasantly efficient technician, who told me a radiologists’ report would be mailed out in a week or so.

Two weeks later, I was in a Sydney hospital, discussing treatment options for my invasive stage II cancer. According to testimony by Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) at last Thursday’s health-care summit, I should have been heading for the airport at that point. Like his unnamed Canadian state[sic] premier with the heart condition, I should have been hightailing it to the U.S., to avail myself of “the best health care in the world.”

More at link - Socialized Medicine Saved Me - The Daily Beast

So she's praising cancer screening vans? I see those all the time.

 

[☭proletarian☭]

we've had it for years, but that's inconvenient isn't it?

No, that's great! Maybe Di should do more research!

or maybe that wasn't his point? i dunno-maybe he'll come back and tell us.

i'd like health insurance reform, but the ongoing clusterfuck in washington doesn't seem likely to get it right. we have mandatory insurance here in mass and it's driving costs through the roof.

I don't think the solution is further federal involvement.

Rather, the solution is local clinics and state-run programs to provide emergency care and regular checkups/ preventive care to the poor at little or no cost.

 

[Harry Dresden]

Have free breast screening....but it's socialism, right?

we've had it for years, but that's inconvenient isn't it?

thats right....my wife gets letters from Blue Shield once or twice a year telling her to get down for your screening....it is free...

 

[Bern80]

You can do it if we can, the US should be able to do this easily...

Again be able to do what? Deliver low cost quality health care in a timely fashion? We all want that I think. But presuming socializing it, especially our government socializing it, is the only and/or best way to accomplish that is ridiculous.

The Republicans had at least one thing right at the health care sumit. The first step we ought to be taking is looking at why medical services cost so much. Because we can get costs down such that the average person can reasonably pay for routine medical services the rest of this debate about who pays for it, who should be taxed for it, who provides it, etc. becomes irrelevant...unless you're one of those people that don't think you should be responsible for the cost of your own health care.

Yes people complain about our government having too much influence over the health care industry if the current legislation passes. But the reality there should be no more proof that what goes on in this country that socializing medicine even more would make the system worse. The reason is government beauracracy is already a huge part of the problem.

Competition brings lowers costs, but insurance companies barely have to compete in this country.

State governments make insurance companies include all kinds of things i their plans that a consumer, if they got to really customize their own plan, simply may not want.

The extent to which our government is involved in medicine is a huge part of the problem already, it is ridiculous to believe that getting them even more involved is going to make things better.

 

[The Rabbi]

Have free breast screening....but it's socialism, right?

we've had it for years, but that's inconvenient isn't it?

thats right....my wife gets letters from Blue Shield once or twice a year telling her to get down for your screening....it is free...

There is no such thing as "free breast screening." Sorry.

Australia's health care system is in crisis, with the government just tkaing over regional hospitals. Not only can we do the same here, we're about to.

 

[Harry Dresden]

we've had it for years, but that's inconvenient isn't it?

thats right....my wife gets letters from Blue Shield once or twice a year telling her to get down for your screening....it is free...

There is no such thing as "free breast screening." Sorry.

Australia's health care system is in crisis, with the government just tkaing over regional hospitals. Not only can we do the same here, we're about to.

ok let me correct that.....my wife tells me we have a 15 dollar co-pay.....

 

[The Rabbi]

thats right....my wife gets letters from Blue Shield once or twice a year telling her to get down for your screening....it is free...

There is no such thing as "free breast screening." Sorry.

Australia's health care system is in crisis, with the government just tkaing over regional hospitals. Not only can we do the same here, we're about to.

ok let me correct that.....my wife tells me we have a 15 dollar co-pay.....

Unless the actual cost to deliver the service is $15 then there is no $15 breast screening either.

 

[Diuretic]

You can do it if we can, the US should be able to do this easily...

When Pulitzer Prize winner Geraldine Brooks was diagnosed with cancer overseas, she didn’t hightail it back home, to “the best health care in the world”—she stayed in Australia, home to a humane, rational system.

In 2004, I’d just finished a novel and by way of celebration had taken my family for an extended visit to Australia, where I was born and raised.

I didn’t expect that trip to save my life. But I’m convinced it did, because of Australia’s “socialized” medicine.

I retreat to my garret when I write a novel, especially toward the end. I stop going anyplace, wear sweat pants all day, neglect personal grooming. Back in the Sydney neighborhood where I’d lived for many years, I was re-entering the civilized world, and was on the way to a salon for an overdue haircut when I passed the BreastScreen van, parked in the main street.This mobile service offers free mammograms, no appointment necessary. It wasn’t until I saw that van that I realized a mammogram was one of the things I’d forgotten to do. I was a year overdue, according to the guidelines for women my age, so I stepped into the van, got squished and zapped by a pleasantly efficient technician, who told me a radiologists’ report would be mailed out in a week or so.

Two weeks later, I was in a Sydney hospital, discussing treatment options for my invasive stage II cancer. According to testimony by Senator John Barrasso (R-WY) at last Thursday’s health-care summit, I should have been heading for the airport at that point. Like his unnamed Canadian state[sic] premier with the heart condition, I should have been hightailing it to the U.S., to avail myself of “the best health care in the world.”

More at link - Socialized Medicine Saved Me - The Daily Beast

Di....what are you saying we should be able to do?....

Develop a public health care system that works Harry. I know it can be done if there's the will.

 

[Diuretic]

we've had it for years, but that's inconvenient isn't it?

thats right....my wife gets letters from Blue Shield once or twice a year telling her to get down for your screening....it is free...

There is no such thing as "free breast screening." Sorry.

Australia's health care system is in crisis, with the government just tkaing over regional hospitals. Not only can we do the same here, we're about to.

Not quite. The health system isn't actually "in crisis". What has happened is that the federal-state approach of funding and delivery has been - surprise! - politicised. In a couple of states it's under pressure because of a lack of funding and overload.

As you know in the US healthcare is a fine political battleground and here it's also a point of contention between the feds and the states/territories which crosses political lines. As one of our Prime Ministers said, "never get between a State Premier and a bucket of money." The actual mechanism for regulating the delivery of health care, Medicare, functions well. That's my point - the mechanism.

In truth some States here have not kept up their end of the bargain in delivery and the feds have, primarily due to the previous conservative government, gradually underfunded the state delivery systems. And now the fed government, facing an election later this year, has chosen health as a battleground with the Opposition.

 

[Harry Dresden]

There is no such thing as "free breast screening." Sorry.

Australia's health care system is in crisis, with the government just tkaing over regional hospitals. Not only can we do the same here, we're about to.

ok let me correct that.....my wife tells me we have a 15 dollar co-pay.....

Unless the actual cost to deliver the service is $15 then there is no $15 breast screening either.

that i dont know.....i just do the co-pay,she goes in has it done....and thats that.....

 

[Harry Dresden]

You can do it if we can, the US should be able to do this easily...



More at link - Socialized Medicine Saved Me - The Daily Beast

Di....what are you saying we should be able to do?....

Develop a public health care system that works Harry. I know it can be done if there's the will.

i know it can be done too....but if the Govt butts in and dictates....we got problems....and the paper work will be increased ten fold...i say get ALL the Ins. Co's together, let the govt. throw some laws and regulations at them......and tell them you know the problems we are having,so you guys fix it....and if you dont.... then Congress will be forced too "fix" it and you may not like what comes about......

 

[antagon]

Di....what are you saying we should be able to do?....

Develop a public health care system that works Harry. I know it can be done if there's the will.

i know it can be done too....but if the Govt butts in and dictates....we got problems....and the paper work will be increased ten fold...i say get ALL the Ins. Co's together, let the govt. throw some laws and regulations at them......and tell them you know the problems we are having,so you guys fix it....and if you dont.... then Congress will be forced too "fix" it and you may not like what comes about......

note the emphasis on public. D, we already have 50 of those. and a fed system. -- theyre some of the oldest in the world... and a military system... and a private one. and 330 million citizens.

either way, HD, the government butted in and dictated the system that we have now. it is a model some countries are turning to - away from public models which run upside down despite not accounting for better care. like you said, we got problems, but..

paperwork reduction is a major objective of the legislation (carrot#1)

the problem would be if the government threw regulations at the industry which didnt give them room to adjust their business models as private businesses are entitled. furthermore, sending the industry hobbling down this path with the recourse of a congress fix is precisely what is prudent to avoid.

as an alternative, and this is the same way the HMO system was established, the government could deliver the industry 'fresh meat' in the way of a few million more consumers incentivized, however not forced, to participate in insurance schemes. (carrot#2)

..then tax/reg the shit out of them (the stick).

thats good 'ol american capitalism and is aimed at bolstering our (mis)adventure in private medicine. behind rabbi's rhetoric is a truth: insurance walks the line of a ponzi scheme. it is both sustainable and susceptible to massive collapse at once. as nice as it seems to demand more from the system with laws and regs, carrots such as those on offer are important in public/private relations and the fostering of a system the government set in motion in the first place.

im not for broad expansion of government into the provider game based on my perspective. i feel that the private system which works almost fine, just needs a change in heading for the next few decades.